Archangel

Archangel (1997) by Sharon Shinn
Publisher: Ace Science Fiction
ISBN: 0441004326
Condition: Good

On the planet Samaria, angels are not vague spiritual beings painted decoratively onto ceilings. They are real, winged, politically powerful and responsible for petitioning the god Jovah whenever humanity requires rain, sunshine or the occasional precisely aimed thunderbolt. It is a sensible arrangement, provided the angels remain virtuous, the people remain obedient and nobody asks too many questions about how the heavenly machinery actually works.

Gabriel has been chosen by Jovah to become the next Archangel, giving him responsibility for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the entire planet. Before taking office, however, he must find and marry Rachel, the mortal woman selected by the god to become his Angelica. Jovah’s choice is infallible, so everyone assumes the marriage will be blessed, harmonious and entirely free of awkwardness. Jovah has apparently never had to organise a wedding.

Rachel is not waiting serenely in a temple for her celestial husband. She is an Edori woman who has endured slavery, loss and years of having her choices made by other people. Consequently, when Gabriel finally finds her and announces that divine authority has selected her as his bride, she does not swoon with gratitude. She is unimpressed by his wings, resistant to his authority and deeply suspicious of a society in which angels claim that God has personally approved all the important administrative arrangements.

Gabriel, meanwhile, is principled, honourable and accustomed to being obeyed. He sincerely wants to reform Samaria, protect its people and replace the increasingly corrupt Archangel Raphael. He is also proud, impatient and baffled that Rachel will not recognise the enormous privilege of marrying a man she has never met because an oracle told him to collect her. Their courtship therefore consists largely of arguments, attempted escapes, mutual exasperation and occasional reminders that the survival of civilisation may depend upon them learning to sing together.

Every year the rulers of Samaria must gather for the Gloria, a vast ceremony in which angels and mortals sing their devotion to Jovah. If the required voices are not raised in harmony, the god may conclude that humanity has become rebellious and respond with a suitably biblical demonstration of displeasure. This places rather more pressure on the prospective marriage than choosing napkins or deciding where to seat the difficult relatives.

Behind the romance lies a world divided by religion, class, commerce and political ambition. Wealthy merchants exploit the poor, the Edori resist permanent settlement, Raphael treats sacred authority as a private business opportunity and the angels themselves are not immune to vanity, rivalry or the temptation to explain their personal preferences as the will of God. Gabriel must prepare to rule, challenge corruption and somehow persuade Rachel that standing beside him need not mean surrendering herself.

Shinn combines romance and fantasy with a quiet current of science fiction running beneath the feathers and hymns. Samaria’s miracles are remarkably dependable, its prayers are transmitted through carefully designed devices and Jovah responds to specific requests with suspicious technological efficiency. The inhabitants call it divine intervention; readers may begin to wonder whether heaven contains rather more equipment than the official paintings suggest.

This copy is in Good condition: previously read and showing the ordinary signs of earthly existence, but still perfectly capable of transporting its next owner to Samaria. It has no visible wings, does not control the weather and has so far declined to identify anyone’s divinely appointed spouse. In the second-hand book trade, these are generally considered advantages.

Ideal for readers who enjoy romantic science fantasy, stubborn heroines, well-meaning but overconfident angels, religious mysteries and marriages arranged by an entity with access to orbital thunderbolts. It offers politics, theology, music, rebellion and a love story in which the phrase “a match made in heaven” sounds less like a compliment and more like a legally binding instruction.

From Crappy Old Books, where all marriages remain strictly optional and requests for better weather are forwarded to the appropriate department.

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